Okey dokey... 2005. It's a fact.

Or, it's indistinguishable from a fact.

That, of course, means... it's resolution time
again, in the old Green Room.

"Not gonna make those same damn mistakes this year!
This is the year I'm going to buckle down and get
somewhere in my acting career!

"Yup, it's time to think about CHANGING my ways...
and changing my results."

(Don't we all just LOVE this particular holiday
ritual? "New Year's Resolutions ... yippee-eugh!")

I know how you feel. But the good news is that
making some New Year's resolutions actually works
-- if you follow a couple of simple steps.

First step: Write them down. (Don't argue, just do
it. It works.)

Secondly, here's a list of tested ideas to ponder
as you make this year's -- well, let's just call
them, 'notes to remind us what we are resolved to
DO... THIS YEAR.'

RESOLVED: A dream without hard work to realize it -
is just a dream.

Bottom line? Building a successful acting career is
really hard work. Twas ever thus. However, keep in
mind that one of the keys to success (in our
business) is to NEVER let the hard work SHOW.

That means, keep it to yourself. Don't complain,
don't explain, don't commiserate. (Co-misery, get
it?)

If you want to 'make it,' you are going to have
to work very hard and never let it show. Is it
worth all the hard work? Only you can answer that
one.

Gonna work hard this year... without complaint?
Write it down.

RESOLVED: A business without testing and tracking
results is not a business -- it's a hobby.

Sending out your headshots willy nilly, to all
corners of the biz, without regard to the results
you are getting -- is a sure course to frustration,
anger, suspicion, and other sorts of negative states
of mind. This is not a good result for you.

You must "test." Keep track of your submissions.
Keep a count. Check results.

If you really want to get the best results, don't
do "mass" mailings. Target your mailings, only
including 'best chance' opportunities. Someone
looking for your type is a better "test" than a
name picked out of the latest casting directors'
listings.

In our business it is important to know if your
headshot is 'working' for you. It is the only way
in the door. If your headshot isn't working, you
have to move on... fast.

Here's one basic tracking technique. What's your
ROII? ( Rate of Interest & Interviews.) If you are
not getting a decent number of calls from your
submissions (unsolicited advertising has as it's
average, about 3 out of 100) ... the problem is
almost certainly your headshot.

It's not selling you. It's not doing it's job. It
is not WORKING. (It may be the picture you love, but
if it isn't working for you, it's time to fire it.)

So, are you gonna keep track of things this year?
Write it down.

Are you gonna move on if your picture isn't working?
Write it down.

RESOLVED: A business without capital investment is
a business that will almost surely fail.

What's it going to be this year? A new iPod or new
headshots? That cute leather coat that makes you look
'hot,' or more money in the bank to pay your SAG
initiation fee? A full-time JOB to pay off your credit
cards or TIME to do projects?

If you aren't making a substantial financial (or time)
contribution to your business, what makes you think
anyone else will?

Are you gonna take care of "money issues" this year?
Write it down.

Are you gonna use your time to actually accomplish
things? Write it down.

RESOLVED: Those who fail to learn [from the past]
are doomed [to repeat it.] (Brackets added.)

Again there are so many choices. Is it going to be
another re-run of Seinfeld or getting out and
auditing an acting class? Weekends relaxing, or
weekends working? Audition on Tuesday night or
just 'vegging out?' Parties or continuing
education? Going to the movies or being in the
movie?

Maybe we should finally define exactly what it is
we ARE doing... is it a hobby or a business?

Hey, it's your resolution, put it into your own
words... just, write it down.

RESOLVED: It isn't always about me.

Well, it isn't. Be sure to write that one down. I
put this one at the top of my list every year.
This is a hard one to remember in the 'heat of
ambition.'

RESOLVED: Happiness is doing what you love and
getting paid for it.

You should always remember that this business was
your choice-- others may even have urged you to
reconsider. Some probably even laughed and pointed
(figuratively, of course) and told you, in no
uncertain terms, that you were nuts to even consider
it. You decided to try anyway.

That being said, whether you TRY professionally
(or not) is ALSO your choice.

No matter what anybody else thinks, says or does --
only you can improve your results.

If you love doing it. DO IT. Don't look for an
invitation or someone else's approbation.

Don't expect others to make it happen FOR you.

Get real. Work hard. Pay attention to business. Do
it yourself.

Say these words to yourself, "If it is to be, it's
up to me."

In fact, write them down.

And understand this ACTUAL FACT: Successful acting
careers CAN be (and ARE) accomplished by mere mortals.

Ask anyone who HAS made it (next time you get the
chance). Once they know you are not a 'civilian,'
they will give you the straight poop:

"Getting here is hard... but not impossible."

[And it helps if you write it down.]

(Brackets added.)

Have a prosperous New Year and ...

Much Success,

Bob Fraser

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Bob Fraser is an actor, writer, show-runner and
author of the new acting career course called
You Must Act!

Read You Must Act! and discover the techniques
that are helping actors all over the world to
improve their careers dramatically.

Robert Guillaume says. "(it) propels actors to
amazing and exciting results."

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© Copyright 2005
All Rights Reserved
Bob Fraser Prod.
Burbank, CA 91505